Perimenopause and weight loss

[KTeacher1]

Hi - Even though I'll be 49 in August, I'm still here. I am having a hard time losing, although I only have 20-25 pounds to lose all together. Three years ago I lost 17 pounds on Atkins but gained it all back plus. I've been on induction for three weeks and have only lost about 5.5 pounds. I'm getting kind of discouraged. Ladies, I have been getting my period irratically for two years. I have not had it in the last three months. Any advice on this as far as the weight loss goes? Also I do drink diet soda (one or two glasses a day) to quell my sweet tooth. Any thoughts on this? HELP!!!!!

[sallyseachange]

Hello there and welcome! Hormonal swings can cause changes in weight loss rate, that's for sure. And as we get older the weight certainly doesn't come off any faster, but it does come off if you persevere. Keep with the programme and you'll get where you want to be, for sure. You're already 5.5 lbs closer! Congrats!

Dropping the diet sodas can only be a good thing. Exercise is particularly important too as we get older.

Hang in there!

[blueberrylady]

I'm long past memopause and losing is a little bit harder than it used to be but not that much. I lost 11 lbs my 1st 2 weeks back and I'm doing fine now. The trick is to counts calories too because they do count. I'm only 5'2" so I can't eat that much.

As for the sodas, they do cause cravings so I limit myself to only 1 a day and that's only last thing at night so I sleep through the cravings. Instead, I drink a quart of water, (sipping a little at a time), with just a 1/2 a tsp. of Nestea Unsweetened Iced Tea mix and 1 packet of SweetnLow in it. It changes the taste of the water and it's just sweet enough to satisfy my sweet tooth without calories and only 1 carb. (I use SweetnLow because Splenda dries my eyes and makes them hurt.) I hope this helps. Nyna

[booklady]

I am going through the same thing, although my cycle is still somewhat regular but kind of bounces around from 21 to as long as 30 days.
For me, I have had trouble staying on plan because I just would not lose and this time I gave up all diet soda, I was drinking at least a two liter bottle of diet dr pepper a day and I gave up all artifical sweetners and because for ME I feel dairy is a problem, I gave up all dairy but butter, which is a fat and does not seem to cause any dairy cravings in me.
The results have been amazing. I have been on plan for 18 days today, and other than going up today a pound for TOM which started this morning, I have lost 21 pounds as of yesterday. Since I weighed in in the morning , I had lost that 21 pounds in 16 days. I have been thrilled. I drink a lot of water and really find that to be the key to weight loss for ME. If I drink at least a gallon a day, I will lose very well, in the past about a half pound a day, this time pretty much a pound a day, although I know that cannot go on forever, but even the first few weeks that has been amazing. If I do not drink enough water, I will lose as little as a half to a pound a week.
My advice to you is to see what you need to tweak to make the plan work for you. I ony eat eggs, natural meats, no processed excpet bacon a few times a week, veggies and salad greens and veggies and some organic mayo and olive oil and natural unprocessed apple cider vinegar for my dressing and butter for my veggies. It is a very strict plan but seems to be working for me and I feel pretty good and I am losing well. I drink between 160 and 200 ounces of water a day and drink nothing else. Not many people can be this strict, I could not for years, but I am to the point I have had it and want to be healthy.
So, just figure out what will work for you and maybe get out of your comfort zone a bit and experiment, and you too can find what will help you to get and keep the weight off. It is not easy, but well worth it for me. I have no sweet cravings at all.
I wish you the best and I am sure you will also figure out what works for you !!
Stephie

[razz]

You all are so encouraging. It's easy for me to explain failures away with "menopause!" because, indeed, my body is behaving in such unfamiliar ways. I've decided to cut back drastically on diet soda (it has been my primary food group for a year) and start glugging the water.

Am on day one, going to the doctor in a couple of hours, and then will measure and if I am brave enuf, take pics. I have to say.... You guys make me VERY excited with your befores and afters. Maybe I'll be able to do the same for someone else, someday!

razz

[eclectikat]

Definitely take pics... if you don't you will regret it... IT is a great thing to know EXACTLY where you came from. I wish I had gotten in my bra and undies and been "brave enuf" as you say. I am going for the gusto to uncovering the body I have NEVER had... and I can say that confidantly because this plan works. SIMPLE... IT WORKS PEOPLE. Stay the course and you will see...
Good luck razz...
Keep us posted
Kathy